1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces 1 of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 2 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, 3 Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.